PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anton Messier (ranked 5479 p4p, 6113 weight class) and Bas Rutten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Anton Messier has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Messier
vs
Rutten

188 cm
22
210
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
20
206
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Anton Messier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bas Rutten!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Sandra Marshall and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A left lands for Messier.

It looks like Bas Rutten has been cut.
Nice cross by Messier.
Messier misses with a straight left.
Messier connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Messier falls off balance throwing a combination

and Rutten counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rutten content to stall in guard here.
Messier is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Messier escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rutten gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rutten lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Rutten is stalling in the full guard.
Messier can't keep his opponent in guard - Rutten advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Rutten seems content to control.

Rutten stands up out of the half guard.
Messier misses with a left hand

and Rutten moves into the clinch.
Messier wants to break free but Rutten has control.
Rutten presses Messier against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

Rutten breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Messier throws a hook to the side of Rutten's head but Rutten sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rutten wants to counter with a clinch but Messier pushes him away.
Messier throws a looping overhand right but Rutten ducks down to avoid it.
As Messier backs off Rutten throws a huge counter combo but Messier manages to avoid it all.
Rutten moves out of range as Messier strikes.
Some wild striking there from Messier.
Rutten keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Messier.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Messier misses with a hook. Rutten ducked under it nicely.
Messier lands the left hand.
Messier waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rutten.
Rutten unleashes a big counter combination but Messier bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Rutten gets a double leg takedown into Messier's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rutten advances to half guard.

Messier looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Messier is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rutten is taking a breather. Messier says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rutten passes to side control.
Messier is trying to get back to half guard.

Rutten decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messier cracks Rutten with an open hand slap.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Messier.
Rutten moves away from the strike by Messier.
Anton Messier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Messier drops Rutten with a left right combo! Messier follows him down to the ground into side control.

Rutten is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Messier is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rutten knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Messier tries for a kimura but Rutten is defending well.
Rutten is trying to control Messier's posture but Messier avoids it.
Rutten wants to get back to his feet but Messier drags him back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Messier swings around for an armbar but Rutten sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Messier's guard.

Messier is looking for a triangle here but Rutten uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Messier is trying to control Rutten's posture but Rutten avoids it.
Rutten scoring with punches and elbows.
Messier is looking for a sweep.
Rutten gets to mount! Messier was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Messier has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Messier tries to lock up and control but Rutten gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Messier really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rutten controlling the position easily from mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Anton Messier will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Bas Rutten's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Messier throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Messier bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rutten's head backwards.
Rutten blocks a jab.

Rutten scores with a takedown into Messier's guard.
Rutten trying to control but Messier is working from the bottom.

Messier working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rutten doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rutten manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rutten engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Messier isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Rutten stacks Messier on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Rutten!
Messier seems a little lost for a moment, as Rutten dominates the positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Messier looking for a sweep but Rutten has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Rutten looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Rutten sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Messier wants to hold on but Rutten pushes him away.
Rutten looking to control but Messier is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rutten with the ground and pound from mount.
Rutten controlling from mount.
Messier tries to lock up and control but Rutten gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Messier is trying to escape the mount.
Rutten lands a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rutten lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Messier hang on?
Rutten controlling from the full mount.
Messier is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rutten controlling the position easily from mount.
Messier gets back to half guard.
Rutten trying to mount his opponent but Messier defends it.

Messier is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rutten pulls his head out easily.

Rutten is working for a kimura but Messier is defending it quite comfortably.
Rutten is breathing heavily.
Rutten passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Messier!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Messier takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Messier wants to hold on but Rutten pushes him away.
Rutten controlling the position easily from mount.
Bas Rutten has got the better of the ground game so far.
Messier is wriggling around trying to escape.
Messier is trying to reverse the position but instead Rutten has taken his back - oops!
Rutten doesn't have the hooks in and Messier manages to turn into his guard.

Messier has gone for a leg lock! Rutten slips out almost immediately though and dives into Messier's guard.

Messier throws his legs up looking for a submission but Rutten uses it to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rutten in side control lands a decent elbow.
Messier tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Rutten easily slips into full mount!
Rutten looking to control but Messier is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rutten avoids the attempt from Messier to control.
Messier can't escape the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rutten with a couple of short strikes.
Messier in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Messier tries to reverse the position but Rutten maintains control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bas Rutten showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bas Rutten's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Messier lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rutten backs up against the cage.
Messier moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rutten drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Messier throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rutten counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rutten arches his back and unloads with a massive left and a right! Messier's eyes roll back into his head, he's out cold! The ref dives in to stop the fight - wow, they were hard shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Bas Rutten!